This Is That Or The Other

Original DDE™ art: “Chasing Simile” by: rob kistner © 2/4/26

—-<§>—-

simile is like a ladder
pretending to be a metaphor
like a wink that forgot the joke
like saying this is that
while nervously crossing fingers

it behaves like a bridge
made of comparisons
like duct tape for meaning
like a dog
dragging yesterday’s newspaper
in today

simile is as polite as a knock
on language’s door
as clumsy as a metaphor
with training wheels
as helpful as pointing
saying that—
but pointing sideways.

it stacks itself like mirrors
facing mirrors
like a thought
wearing another thought’s coat

like explaining love with weather
or silence with snow
or itself with itself—

which is a whole lot
like chasing your tail
and calling it clarity

which
in thinking about it
is a bit like madness…

Such fun!

<~>

rob kistner © 2/4/26

Poetry at: dVerse